Wildlife Conservationists Partner To Restore Bald Eagle Nest

Collapsed bald eagle nest in Dallam County needed rebuilding

FORT WORTH, Texas — Wednesday, a bald eagle nest located in the northern Texas Panhandle received a much needed restoration thanks to a statewide partnership of university and state wildlife experts and zoos. The group partnered to build an artificial nest and perch for a pair of bald eagles that has made the area home for the past several years. Biologists feared that if the nest was not restored, the eagle pair, which mates for life, would lose this nesting habitat.

The nest was discovered in 2004 by Texas Tech University Research Biologist and Associate Professor Dr. Clint Boal. Since then, the two adult eagles have produced five eaglets. The tree holding the nest slowly deteriorated, and was found collapsed in October.

The new artificial nest was constructed in early November at the Fort Worth Zoo, and the poles donated by Xcel Energy were erected Wednesday to provide support and additional perching. The partnership also includes Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Abilene Zoo, Texas Tech University and Amarillo Zoo. The project was completed just in time for the eagles to nest this winter.

Partly due to loss of habitat and the negative effects of DDT, bald eagles were listed as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. They are also protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA) and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Currently, bald eagles are listed as a threatened species both federally and in Texas.

Based on an increase in overall population, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently reopened public comment proposing the removal of the bald eagle from the federal list of threatened or endangered species.

Available video: Video includes footage of project partners erecting the telephone poles and placing the artificial nest. Video also includes raw footage of Texas adult bald eagles and eaglets nesting. Note: these eagles are not the eagles located in Dallam County.

TH 2006-11-13

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